Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-11
MAYOR AND SHERIFF. BOTH
KNIGHTS.
Disclosures in the trial of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Train WreCkers.
from ne Missouri Pepu6licn,.

'ropt ne Missouri Republican,.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. 31.--Until
to-day the trial OF George Hamilton, the
Knight Of Labor accused of the fatal Mis-
souri, Pacific wreck last April, has pro-
crossed so quietly that the knowing ones
predicted a break was near at hand. 1t
came to-day, and was precipitated by the
defense. In the morning and during the
fore part of the afternoon the evidence
was MT important. At O'Clock, how
evef, the name OF George Ii. Fowle was
called. There was a stir among the
audience in an instant, for every one
knew thet George II. FOwle was the
name fthe famous Brother Alfred, the
shreWd detective who dad passed tor an
envoy from Powderly and as such bad
gained the confidence Of the six indicted
knights of Labor and accumulated the
evidence on which the trial Is based. AS
his name was called Fowle took the wit
ness stand and WAS sworn.
Those WAC expected n sensation were
scarcely prepar for hat followed. AS
be told on his direct examination how he
had come to Kansas City, after the wreck,
representing himself as an envoy from
POwderly, with Instructions to run oil all
men concerned in the wreck, the audience
kept perfectly still in order 10 hear every
word. Those in the aisles crowded for
ward to the railing and Brother Alfred,
as he told his sensational story, looked
down into the rows Of faces, dozens deep,
besides the part Of the audience that was
seated. After ne had told about the meet
ing at the st. James Hotel. the an0nv.
nous notes, and the arrest, he was turned
over to Maj. Warner. Maj Warner asked
what was Mayor lannon's connection
with tue matter. and Brother Alfred told
how the Mayor, thinking he was repre-
sentative sent on by Powderly to get the
wrecEers out OF danger, had driven him
around in buggy to their homes In an
attempt to ind them, and had proml sed
10 aid the supposed Brother Alfred to get
them out of tue reach of the law. Tnen
Maj. Warner asked If Sheriff Ferguson
had given hun the Knights o! Labor grip.
81 gave him the rip and he returned
it, said Brother Alfred, land told me to
make myself known at the jail and
could see Lloyd"
After lurther stating how Lloyd had
been released from jail and taken to ST..
Louis, the witness was excused and the
court adjourned.
AS he passed the reporters stand,
Sheriff Ferguson rushed up to him eX-
citedly and eXclaimea:
Tine man that says that 1 gave him the
grip Is d - liar!p
You did give it to me-" replied Fowle
The two meu walked together few
PAGES, when the Sheriff stopped and threw
back his coat. displaying the butt of a
large revolver sticking in his belt. He
probably did not intend to use it, but
Chief Furlong and several of tae SAeriff's
friends at once rushed between the two
men. by this time the audience, most of
whom were friends of Hamilton, under
stood what was going on, a2d began to
press forward. Halt dozen OF Furlony's
men also pushed forward. Omnous ST.
lence followed.
A blow or an attempt to draw a revolt
yer would have made disturbance, and
the consequences every one knew, would.
in all probability, be most serious. just
when the affair was most threatening, and
Sheriff Ferguson had begun TO talk ex-
ctedly, some cool friend of the Sheriff
suggested t0at they 90 below to County
Attorney Gibson's office. FoWle and the
Sheriff passed out of the room In the
midst of their friends, many of the audi
ence menacing the detectives as they
passed. Fowle, the Sheriff, Chief Fur
long, County Attorney Gibson, four or
five of Furlong's men, several friends OF
Ferguson, and couple of reporters, en-
tered the office together. They stood thus
for moment, while the spectators anx-
jdusly awaited Developments. ready to in
tertere to prevent bloodshed. Then FER
guson angrily demanded an explanation,
and Fowle calmly reiterated the state
ment he had made on tee stand and de-
tailed the circumstances.
'Well, by - said Ferguson. 81 am
a knight of Labor, and | don't deny it:
but it doesn't keep me from being a
square man and doing my duty, and l
never gave you the grip"
81 gave you the grip and you returned
it," returned F0wle.
"Well, l don't remember it," replied
Ferguson more calmly.